To review, in my previous column, I lambasted opinions. I described my detest, in no dearth of detail, and outlined the unfavorable outcomes of sharing our opinions. A claim of Plato will serve as a final thought on this matter before moving onward: opinion is subject to error, but knowledge is not.

 
At an institution of higher education, it is our business to pursue knowledge. To pursue claims that are backed by sound logic and reasoning. It has been a tradition of Academe for centuries. So, in accordance with this tradition, I ask of you all to set aside your opinions for a moment. Put on your thinking caps: how do we resolve our terrorism pandemic?

 
After the atrocities committed in Paris this last week, we are tragically reminded that terrorism is alive and well in our world. We are awoken from our complacent daze with images of horrific villainy.

 
In response, many world leaders and common-folk alike are beating their war drums once again. Many leaders are calling for bombs and war. Others have scapegoated the Syrian refugees. Neither of these parties are tapping into knowledge effectively.

 
Before I continue, I need to be clear that I deeply admire and respect those who have fought for our security. Our soldiers, intelligence agents and counter-terrorism agencies have contributed immeasurable effort and sacrifice to ensure our safety and well-being—to these individuals, I will be forever grateful. These individuals have foiled countless terroristic plots and have saved many lives as a result.

 
Unfortunately, we must acknowledge that terrorism is as vibrant as it was when our “War on Terror” began in September of 2001. The same brutality and violence is being perpetrated against peaceful people; the perpetrators are merely acting under a different name and context.

 
Our motives to curb extremist terrorism have been admirable and worthwhile, but we must deploringly admit that our tactics in doing so have been rather futile. This is an ideological war—a war that cannot be won with bullets, bombs and lives lost.

 
My favorite terrorist (fictional, of course) is V, a freedom fighter disguised in a Guy Fawkes mask who seeks to dismantle a futuristic authoritarian 1984-esque government in the film “V for Vendetta.”

 
The reason I share this example is because V has an astute quote: “Beneath this mask there is more than flesh. Beneath this mask there is an idea, Mr. Creedy. And ideas are bulletproof.”

 
Behind our contemporary masked terrorists rests an insidious, twisted idea. I will use our extreme Islamic militant terrorists as an example.

 
In this case, certain leaders have hijacked individuals’ core beliefs and, in turn, planted a misguided and gross interpretation of jihad. They have been sold on the idea that if they enact these heinous crimes, they will be given everlasting rock star parking in Paradise when they die. This is a radical opinion that must be faced directly and refuted.

 
Our terrorists have a distorted interpretation of the Qur’an. However, just as the Westboro Baptist Church is not reflective of the majority of Christians, we must not associate the actions of these extremists with the majority of the Islamic community who are generally peaceful, loving people.

 
Our terrorists have been spoon-fed a violent ideology and believe it to their core. Killing them will do little good. The ideology will inevitably endure, and it will only fuel additional violent retaliation.

 
Rather, we must kill the ideology. We must kill the intangible set of beliefs that guide terroristic and violent behavior.

 
I’m afraid that our current extremists are beyond reason; I’m not certain they will entertain any sort of ethical exchange of ideas. But we must start somewhere.

 
Bombs and bullets have proven to be inadequate, so we must find an alternative to this flawed and destructive path.

 
We need to reach out to our fellow human comrades, regardless of how different our ideologies may be. We need to engage in dialogue. Use our voices and minds.

 
We need to ensure these violent ideologies cease to be fostered in our youth and hungry-minded. As stewards of Academe, we must continue our pursuit of knowledge and, in turn, infuse it within the rest of humanity. If we don’t, we are willingly forfeiting our well-being and future to a menacing and vile minority group.

 
Not on our watch, Cats.